Variable pitch feeder



4 Sheets-Sheet 2 L. J. NOWAK, JR VARIVABLE PITCH FEEDER sept. 22, 1953 Filed Oct. 5, 194B Sept- 22, 1953 l.. J. NowAK, JR 2,652,954

VARIABLE FITCH FEEDER Filed Oct. 5, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Inventor' Leon J.' Ewa/Jr Sept. 22, 1953 L. J. NowAK, JR 2,652,954

VARIABLE FITCH FEEDER Filed OCT.. 5, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Sept. 22, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VARIABLE FITCH FEEDER nois Application October 5, 1948, Serial No. 52,923

13 Claims. (C1. 222-282) My invention relates to an improvement in feeding devices and has for one purpose to provide a variable delivery feeder.

Another purpose is to provide a feeder for relatively nely divided substances such as grain or grain products.

Another purpose is to provide a variable pitch spring feeder.

Another purpose is to provide a variable pitch feeder which is readily adjustable.

Another purpose is to provide a Variable pitch feeder with an adjustable inner core.

Other purposes will appear from time to time in the course of the specification and claims.

I illustrate the invention more or less diagrammatcally in the accompanying drawings Where- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a device embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal axial section, on an enlarged scale, with parts omitted;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal axial section, on an enlarged scale, illustrating parts omitted from Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a section, on an enlarged scale, on 'i' line ll--4 of Figure l;

Figure 5 is a section, on an enlarged scale, on line 5 5 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a section, on an enlarged scale, on line 6--6 ofhFigure l;

Figure '7 is a section, on an enlarged scale, on line 'I-'I of Figure 6; and

Figure 8 is a longitudinal section through another embodiment oi the invention.

Like parts are indicated by like symbols throughout the specication and drawings.

Referring to the drawings, l generally indicates a base plate upon which the structure as a whole may be mounted. Upwardly extending from the base plate are a pair of hopper end plates 2, 3, which denne the ends of a hopper. The hopper is completed by a trough member generally indicated as- 4 and having upwardly and outwardly flared side Wall members 5 connected by an arcuate bottom portion 6. Extended outwardly from the end plate 3 is a delivery tube 'i having an inner aperture aligned with the bottom of the hopper and conforming generally to the arcuate bottom portion 6. The tube 'I may be screwthreaded into or otherwise secured to a plate 8 which is screwed or otherwise secured to the hopper end Wall 3 by screws 9 and bolts it. The tube 'I has an outer discharge opening H which delivers to a discharge housing for the downspout I2 extending to and secured to the upper face ciu' an of the base plate I. The base plate i is appropriately apertured, the aperture being aligned with the bottom discharge or outlet member I3.

It will be understood, also, that the end wall 3 is apertured t put the interior of the hopper into communication with the inte-rior of the discharge tube 'I. At the outer end of the tube l, I illustrate two ball-bearing assemblies Icl, l within which is mounted a rotating member I6 having an outer end Il to which the drive pulley lla or other equivalent member may be secured.

The member I6 has an inner end I8 terminating in a conic portion i9, effective to divert fed material into the downspout I2. The member I8 is also provided with threads or spiral grooves as at 20, to receive an end of the below described spring 45,

Extending outwardly from the opposite hopper.

end-wall 2 is a second tube generally indicated as 25. It may be threaded into or otherwise secured to the apertured plate 3l) Whichis secured to the end-Wall 2 as by screws 3l and bolts 32. The tube has its outer end closed by the pipe cap 33. It is provided with longitudinally extending slots 34 of which two are shown, diametrically opposed, and lying in a common horizontal plane.

Longitudinally slidable within the tube 25 is a bearing supporting collar 35 provided with outwardly extending pins St which pass outwardly through the slots 34 in the tube or pipe 25. It will thus be understood that while the sleeve 35 may be axially moved along and within the tube 25, it is held against rotation by the outwardly extending guide blocks 35a through which the pins 36 pass. Within the sleeve 25 are ball or roller bearing assemblies 3l, 36 which support an inner rotating member 39 which has a longitudinal extension or core i0 terminating in a generally conic end portion 4I. The core member lill also has a threaded or spirally grooved portion i2. It will be noted that the members l 8 and it are of approximately the same diameter and are axially aligned. Connecting the members I8 and lic is a spiral conveying spring i5 which is shown as anchored or secured at one end to the member i6 by the threads or grooves 26 and as anchored at its other end to the member lic by the grooves or threads 412. lt will be understood that in response to the rotation of the member I8 by its outwardly extended portion Ii the spring is rotated and, with it, the projecting core 33, which may extend into the bottom of the hopper through a suitable aperture i6 in the side plate 2, the aperture 46 being concentric with and vprefer- E ably of the same diameter as the corresponding aperture lita in the end plate 3.

In the use of the device material may be fed to the hopper by any suitable means and when the members Ill and de are rotated, for example by any suitable pulley I'ia, the material is carried along the passage to the discharge I I, the conic end I@ of the member I8 insuring that all of the material is deflected downwardly through the discharge aperture II and thus down the downspout I2, I3.

I find it advantageous to control varialoly the pitch of the spring feeding element d5. I obtain this result, in the particular structure shown, by. moving the member de, to which one end of the spring i5 is secured, longitudinally along the tube or pipe 25. I may use any suitable means for this purpose but I illustrate the use of a normally xed spring G which is coiled about theexterior of the tube and which serves as a thread or worm for engaging the projecting pins and for thus moving the sleeve 35 along the interior of the tube 2c. I obtain this result by forming the spring of rather stiff, heavy stock. I secure the spring to the hub of a hand wheel 5I, which is rotatable about the exterior of the tube 25 and which is urged by the spring 5t against any suitable stop 'or collar 52 on the tube25. The opposite end cf thespring 5!! thrusts against the pipe-cap 33 but is free to rotate in relation to it. rIhus rotation vof the hand wheel 5IV in one direction moves the left end of the spring :i5 to the left, referring to the position of the parts as shown in Figure 2, and its rotation in the opposite direction moves the spring end to the right.

It will be understood that the conveying effect of the spring d5, assuming a constant rate 'of rotation, can be varied by varying the -pitchfof the spring. This is done,;as above described, by vary` ing the effective length of the Aspring [i5 by moving the bearing supporting sleeve -35 .toward or away from thexed member vI 8. It willbe understood that the member It rotates but does not move axially along thetube or pipe l.

As an additional varying or controlling; factor,

I may employ the plug or core member d. While- I illustrate it as moving unitarily with the mem` ber 38 and the bearing assembly' 35, this is not necessary. However, whenv so used-it will be un-l derstood that as the pitch of the spring 45 is in-` creased, the core dll is' withdrawn toward the left,

referring tothe position of t-heparts asV shown in Figures 2 and 3. It may be entirely withdrawn into the tube 25, if desired, so that, at maximum pitch of the spring'no core is employed at all.. At the other extreme it may extend fromendt'o end of the hopper, and into the tube '1, as vshown in full line in Figures 2 and 3. When in that position the core largely fills the interiorof'the'spring 25, leaving a relatively restricted space for the conveying movement of material along and within the space surrounded -by `or defined by the spring. Thus, as the pitch of the spring is reduced, the spacewithin thezspringfisatthe same` time restricted,

Referring to Figure 8, I illustrate a structure similar to that shown in Figures 2 and 3, but in which the core lil is omitted, and in which I rely solely on the spring. By varying theV effective length of the spring, through rotation of the hand wheel 5I, I vary the pitch, and thus the capacity of the spring. It will be noted that in place of the core 4l) I illustrate a stub lilla, screw-'threaded at 42a, to which the spring'45 is'secured.

It will be realized that whereas I have described and claimed a practical and operative device, nevertheless many changes may be made in size, shape, number and disposition of parts without departing from the spirit of my invention. I therefore wish my description and drawings to be taken as in a broad sense illustrative or diagrammatic, rather than as limiting me to my specic showing herein.

The use and operation of my invention are as follows:

'I illustrate a variable feeder in which I may obtaina very accurate adjustment of feed by the separate or the conjoint use of several different adjustingor. controlling means.

In the first place, I employ as my conveying member a variable pitch spring I5 which, during rotation, .or previous to rotation, can be set at a wide pitch range. When set to a minimum pitch, there isavery slight feeding movement, a mere dribble, along the bottom of the hopper and downwardly and outwardly through the discharge aperture Ii. As the pitch is increased the Irate of feed is increased until, at half pitch, for example, with a two inch diameter of spring, I may get a feed of approximately 9G cubic feet or 112 bushels per hour. This factor of control involves merely varying the pitch of the spring by varying the effective length of the rotated spring.

Assuming that the spring isset at a predetermined pitch, I can also widely vary the feed by varying the speed of rotationy of the spring. I do not illustrate specicA means for this purpose, since they are well known, but it will be understood lthat I may employ a variable speed motor, diagrammatically illustrated at X to drive the pulley Ila. However, any suitable mea-ns for varying the rate of rotation of the spring may be employed.

Another factor of control is the core which I have illustrated -as adjustable unitarily with the spring l5 but which,r it will be understood, may, if desired, be independently adjustable. However, withreference to Figures 2 and 3, the plug or core All moves in and out as the pitch of the springv f5.5 is varied. When it is in the position in which it is shown in full line in Figure 2, it extends for the entire length of the `hopper and cuts the feed or delivery down to a minimum. When it is withdrawn to the dotted line position of Figure 2, the pitch of the spring being at the same time increased, the rate of delivery of material from the hopper is at a maximum. The absolute maximum is reached when the core 43 is entirely withdrawn from the hopper.

While I find it in general advantageous to adjust the core and the spring in unison, it will be understood that this is not necessary. Under some circumstances, it may be advantageous to adjust the position of the core independently of the adjustment of the pitch of the spring 45. It will also be understood that if a spring of constant pitch is employed, the movement of the core 4U, or its equivalent, into and out of the hopper, and its position at yvarious points along the hopper, may provide an advantageous control of the feed. Under other circumstances I may employ a set of cores of diierent tapers or of different diameters which may selectively be positioned within the interior of the coil spring 45. It will be understood that the taper of the core 40 may be widely varied. However, I nd it important that the cylindrical portion of the core be of sufficient length so that it can extend from end to end of the hopper bottom, as shown in fulllinein Figure 2, when the operator desires.

In connection with the use of the core 40, it enormously increases the possible ratio or range of adjustment, as compared to using the spring 45 alone without a core. While, under some circumstances, I may prefer to omit the core altogether, in general I iind its use highly advantageous. It will be understood that in the use of the device, when the core is omitted, the spring surrounds and conveys a substantially solid or continuous mass of material. With no core within the'spring, the interior ofthe spring is filled with material and the minimum setting of the device in relation to its maximum is much higher than when the space surrounded by the spring is reduced in cross section by inserting a core within the spring surrounded space. By using a tapered core, I can control or vary the proportion of the space withinA the spring which is blocked out by insertion of the core.

It should be kept in mind that it is highly vadvantageous to employ an initially tightly wound spring which is under tension and which passes entirely through the hopper, both ends of the spring being outside of the hopper, an intermediate portion of the spring receiving the feed from the hopper and conveying it away from the hopper through the tubular passage 'l into which the discharge end of the spring extends. The bearings or supports for the ends of the spring are thus isolated from the entire path of movement of the material along the spring, andare protected from the material handled.

In connection with the various forms of the device herein shown it should be kept in mind that restricting the space in the spring does not restrict the opening from the supply hopper. Thus a uniform supply of material is always available for delivery to the outlet. Specifically, inserting a core within the spring does not change or limit the access opening through which the material iiows to or reaches the spring for removal along the outlet.

I wish also to emphasize that whereas I have shown a coil spring, it is not, under all circumstances, necessary that spring stock be employed. Any flexible member, the coil or pitch of which can be varied, may be used.

In a broad sense, my invention includes employing a rotated coil to convey material from a receiving or storage zone, such as a hopper, through a conveying zone, which may be formed by a tube or duct, to a discharge outlet. The capacity of the feeder may be controlled by one or both of the above discussed factors, namely, by varying the coil pitch or by employing or adjusting a core or ller surrounded by the spring.

I claim:

l. In a variable volume feeder, a hopper, a discharge member extending from said hopper, a coil in said member, means for rotating said coil and for thereby moving material from said hopper and through said discharge member, said member having a discharge outlet, means for adjustably Varying the pitch of the coil and for thereby varying the elfective volume of delivery of the coil through the discharge member, and a core member surrounded by said coil and movable into and out of said discharge member.

2. The structure of claim l characterized in that the core member is adjustably mounted.

3. The structure of claim l characterized in that the core member is tapered and is adjustably mounted for movement into and out of the hopper. v

4. In a variable volume feeder, a hopper, a coil passing through said hopper and having its opposite ends outside of said hopper, means for rotating said coil and for thereby withdrawing material from said hopper, a discharge tube sur-` rounding one end of said coil, said tube having a discharge outlet, said coil being secured only at its ends, the interior of said coil being open and unimpeded, and means adapted adjustably to vary the volume of free space surrounded by the coil.

5. In a feeder a hopper having aligned tubes extending oppositely from a lower portion thereof, a coil passing through said hopper and having its opposite ends located outside of said hopper and in said tubes, said coil being initially tightly wound and being initially under tension, means for rotating said coil for thereby withdrawing material from said hopper, one of said tubes having a discharge outlet, means for adjustably varying the pitch of the coil and for thereby controlling its delivery rate, and a core adjustably insertable within said coil, into andthrough said hopper.

6. The structure of claim 5 characterized in that the core is adjustably mounted in one of the tubes and is extensible through the coil and through the hopper into the other tube.

'7. In a feeder, a hopper, a discharge tube extending laterally from said hopper, a coil spring in said tube and extending into said hopper, means for rotating said spring and for thereby withdrawing material from said hopper and through said discharge tube, said tube having a discharge outlet, and a connection for variably retracting said spring into said tube, whereby to vary the effective length and the pitch of said spring, and a core positioned within said spring and extending into said hopper and a connection for controllably moving said core into and out of said hopper,

8. The structure of claim '7, characterized in that the connection for moving the core is formed and adapted to move the core into and out of the hopper in unison with the movement of the spring.

9. In a variable pitch feeder, a hopper, a discharge tube extending laterally from said hopper, a coil spring in said tube and extending into said hopper, means for rotating said spring and for thereby withdrawing material from said hopper through said discharge tube, said tube having a discharge outlet, connecting means for retracting the spring within the tube and for thereby reducing its effective length and increasing its pitch, a core mounted within said spring for endwise movement, and means for variably positioning it within the space surrounded by the coil spring, and for thereby varying the conveying capacity of the spring.

l0. In a variable capacity feeder, a hopper having an upwardly open, laterally restricted bottom portion, an open coil positioned in and conforming generally to said bottom portion, the hopper having a discharge aperture aligned with said coil, adapted for the delivery of material from the hopper, means for rotating said coil and for thereby delivering material from the bottom portion of the hopper to and through said outlet aperture, a separate core positioned within and surrounded by said coil, and means for adjusting said core along the axis of the coil and for thereby varying the volume of material per revolution moved by said coil.

1l. The structure of claim l0 characterized in that the core is tapered.

12, Ina variable-volume feeder, a. hopper; adischarge` passage member. extending from Ysaid, hopper. and in lateral communication With-the.

bottom portion of-theinterior of the hopper, a

coilvpositioned in said discharge member, said` coil extending into and being exposed` wit-hin thev bottom portion of the hopper and in unimpeded Contact with material in the bottom.portionV of the hopper, the axis of said coil being generally horizontal, means for rotating said coil and for.

of'the coil through the discharge member, and 15 meansior maintaining the coil under. tension, the spring being biased toward a minimum pitch condition..

13. In a variable volume feeder, a'hopper, a'

discharge member extendingfrom the lower portion of the hopper, a coil in saiddischarge member, means for rotatingsaid coil and for there-A by moving material from the hopper and through said'discharge member, said member having a discharge outlet, means for adjustably varyingv thepitch of the coil and for thereby varyinggthe eiective volume of the delivery of the coil` through the discharge, member, the rotating meansforthe coil beingsecured tothe clischaxnge adapted to causeanincrease of pitch adjacent' the discharge outlet.

LEON J. NOWAK, JR.

References Cited in the file of this. patent UNITED STATESPATENTS Number Name Date 351,014 Wissler Oct. 19, 1886' 882,304 Eitle Mar. 17, 1908 887,762 Brent May 19, 1908 958,965 May May'24, 1910 1,177,792 Mims- Apr. 4, 1916 1,589,630 Cooper June 22, 1926 2,182,680 Rugg Dec. 5, 1939 2,221,176 Boll Nov. 12, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Number. Country Date;

558,768 Great Britain Jan. 19, 19114l 

